Streak Free Window Washing Solution and Instructions

Streak Free Window Washing Solution And Instructions ~I am excited to share Streak Free Window Washing Solution and Instructions! Winter is winding down and spring is waiting around the corner so this is the perfect time to give the windows a good cleaning.

The Problem:

I have always dreaded washing windows because I never was happy with the end result.

The Solution:

My windows now have never looked so clean and smudge and streak free!

I can’t take credit for how I got my windows this way. I did have a window cleaner come and do all of the outside windows and the very high inside windows. I just don’t have a ladder tall enough and I’m too scared to go up there myself. Hubby is too busy with work and being out of town. I think you can see what I mean with these photographs of these outside and inside windows…

I also have to give credit to my bloggy friend Erin who writes the delightful blog Neaten Your Nest. If you have not had a chance yet to visit her blog I highly recommend it because she always inspires me and teaches me something new with her very practical and delightful posts about how she organizes her home while being a busy working mom of two young boys and several pets. There is SO much information on the web about how to and not to wash windows. I even came across information that was in direct conflict with what one site said to do and not do compared to another site. Very confusing. But after trying Erin’s method I am sold and wanted to pass it on to you!

Erin recently wrote a post about how she made her own glass and mirror cleaner using mostly earth-friendly ingredients. Her ingredient list looked like it was very doable and easy to make so I thought I’d give it a try. I didn’t change anything except I used filtered water. Our water is quite hard so we have to have a water softener a drinking water filtration system under the sink. I was thinking that using plain bottled water or distilled water might be an option as well.

I also asked the window cleaner what he used for cloths and he recommended cut up old towels. I happened to have a bunch of old face cloths that used to be white and have turned to a stained off-white colour over time so I recently replaced them with new bright white ones. I’m so glad I kept the old ones because I’m going to keep them exclusively for window and mirror cleaning since they turned out to be the perfect cloth.

I prefer using the face cloths for two reasons. I wasn’t working with frayed edges from ripped or cut up towels and what I really liked was I could fold the face cloth into quarters. When one quarter became too soiled I just flipped it over and used the other side. Then I used the two inside quarters until the entire cloth became too soiled and switched to a new one. Using white face cloths rather than dark coloured ones made it very easy to see when the cloth had to be replaced. I used about a dozen cloths for all of the windows inside the house.

I bought a new spray bottle and poured the ingredients in using a funnel. I also created a label listing the contents and purpose of the solution so it would be easy to whip up again when empty and there was no confusion what was inside.

Here is the recipe and instructions thanks to my window cleaner and Neaten Your Nest!

Streak Free Window Washing Solution and Instructions

12 oz. water

12 oz. vinegar

2-3 tablespoons dish soap

1/8 – 1/4 tsp Tea Tree Oil

Pour measured contents into a spray bottle.

Spray cleaning solution onto the window and wipe wetted area with a face cloth folded into quarters in a circular motion. If the window is particularly dirty complete this step twice.

Use a second dry face cloth folded in quarters using the same circular motion. Keep wiping until all evidence of moisture is gone and the cloth glides smoothly over the glass. This step may take going over the surface several times.

Avoid washing windows on a really hot sunny day. The sun will dry the cleaning solution faster than being able to clean and dry the windows causing smudges and streaking.

But I do wonder how long it will last? The family pet, a yellow lab likes to press his nose against the glass doors while he waits to be let in from outside and shortly after I had my windows cleaned last time a lovely bird paid a visit and left a dripping souvenir right in the middle of the large kitchen picture window!

Thank you for stopping by! If you get a chance to clean your windows with this solution you might want to let Erin know how it worked for you and if you have another window recipe and cleaning technique that work for you I would love to hear about it!

Cleaning is always easier when things are less cluttered. Here I share some strategies for how to de-clutter ….

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Comments

Ooh, I love this post, and I can’t wait to try it!! I use windex and paper towels, and it NEVER looks nice, it feels like a huge waste of time!! Quick question: where do you purchase tea tree oil? Second quick question: any thoughts on using newspaper? I heard that is the premier way to clean windows streak-free, but I never actually tried it.

I am so glad you enjoyed the post. It is amazing how knowing how to get clean windows can be so exciting. I bought my Tea Tree oil in the pharmacy department by the astringents as in rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide (I think) at the grocery store. I am sure health food stores would carry it too. It is a bit pricey but a little bit goes a long way. It has quite an intense odor. I used to do the paper towel/Windex thing too but I like this a lot more. I haven’t tried newspapers but have heard that it really works too. I have to admit I like by old wash cloths. If you try the newspaper, let me know what you think! Thanks again, Thea

I agree with you about Erin’s site — she has lots of useful tips gathered up in one place. So handy!

I just finished washing my windows about a week ago. I can’t stand them when they get all mucky, and with a little spring sunshine shedding more light on them all the time, I had to clean up. Quick!

I hadn’t considered using face cloths to wipe down the windows. I have one micro-something towel that supposed to be specially made to clean glass and mirrors, but I only have one. It gets dirty so quickly that I’ve had to stop after only a window or two and wait until it made it through the laundry. But I have loads of old face cloths, so I will give those a go! Thanks for the tip!

And you do have some lovely windows, by the way. I like the bump-out bay window especially!

Thanks Joan. I only came across the face cloth idea because of asking the window cleaner what he used. So I figure the experts know what they are talking about. The bump-out bay window on the top floor is the master bedroom that provides quite a lovely view of the river valley but I’m not going up there to clean them. Have a great week! ~Thea

The Tea Tree oil works like an antiseptic killing off germs. I did some research on it and it has multiple uses even killing off cold sores but it cannot be consumed. I am thinking that any oil would work but just a wee bit so the windows don’t turn out greasy. The Tea Tree Oil has quite a ‘clean’ fragrance so only a little bit needs to be added to the solution. Lavender oil would just make the solution more fragrant. But there is a big but… I am not an expert. I think the Tea Tree oil just adds to the cleaning and sterilizing from what I have read. Hope that makes sense?? Thea

I am so glad this worked for you Thea! And thank you for the link back to my site! This is seriously my new go to cleaning product. I can’t believe how well it works on our shower and the buildup on our faucets too. We have hard water too so I think you’re right that filtered or distilled water is best. Thank you again and I’m so glad we’ve been able to share ideas with one another!
~Erin

OK, face cloths : great idea, I never thought of this Thea! I have to clean my as soon as possible, I was supposed to do it this last weekend but I was lacking time! agree with you 100% about Erin’s blog! 🙂